The Pipeline Industry Meets Grief Unimaginable: Congress Reacts with the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002

In response to several devastating pipeline accidents, Congress implemented major changes to the nation’s pipeline safety laws. By way of background, this article describes the accident history leading to the passage of the new law, explains basic pipeline operation, and identifies the people and agencies that lobbied for change. The author then summarizes the legislative history of the new law, including some of the bills that Congress considered in the immediately preceding years. The author explains the sections of the new statute and highlights the changes Congress made. The article illustrates how the new statute would have affected past accidents, had it been in place earlier, and goes on to identify where Congress fell short. Finally, the article suggests additional measures that Congress could impose if the new law fails to reduce the frequency and severity of pipeline accidents.

• Publication Date: 2004

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 243-282
• Serial:
  • Natural Resources Journal
  • Volume: 44
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Crash severity; Crashes; Laws and legislation; Pipeline safety; Prevention
• Identifier Terms: Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002
• Subject Areas: Law; Pipelines; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01010586
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 12 2005 6:41AM